SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 6 hrs 29 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard "absolutely loved" Antwerp thriller

:Headline: Rangers boss Steven Gerrard 'absolutely loved' Antwerp thriller: ID:436051: from db_amp
Gers continued their passionate affair with continental action on Thursday night as they edged out a 4-3 thriller with Royal Antwerp.

Rangers may be close to rekindling their relationship with the Scottish Premiership title but Steven Gerrard admits it was the Europa League which got his blood pumping in midweek.

Gers continued their passionate affair with continental action on Thursday night as they edged out a 4-3 thriller with Royal Antwerp.

It was a night full of ups and downs but Gerrard's men claimed a precious away win which has the Ibrox legions dreaming of a happy ever-after on the road to Gdansk.

Yet the Light Blues' priority this season is to be reunited with an old flame they have not held tight in 10 years as they seek domestic bliss with the Premiership crown.

Victory over Dundee United on Sunday will mean they need just three more wins to cross the finishing line.

But Gerrard insists it is possible to have two loves at the same time as he reflected on Gers' hot and steamy night in Flanders.

"I absolutely loved Thursday night," said the former Champions League winner, whose side welcome Antwerp back to Glasgow for the second leg of their last-32 showdown on Thursday.

"I love competing at this level. It's a proper game of football with two teams full of talented players really going for each other.

"It was an emotional game but that's how I like it. They are the games you want to be involved in.

"The players loved it as well. I could tell they were buzzing with the outcome after the game.

"We realise the Europa League level is going to be different from domestic.

"But the games are coming thick and fast. It's what we are used to in the schedule so we will get on with it and get them ready for the next challenge."

Gerrard may have cast dreamy eyes at his team in the minutes after their Bosuilstadion victory but there was no escaping the manager's quizzical glare the morning after the night before.

The Ibrox side' defence made it far too easy for the Belgians to twice go in front and Gerrard will not accept a repeat.

"It would be easy for me to say 'it was just one of those nights'," he said. "But we didn't defend well enough in situations.

"We know and the players know what we could have done better. We could have avoided all three goals but it just shows you will concede at this level if you are not right on your details.

"We need to improve on that in a week's time for sure."

For now, it is back to Premiership action as Rangers chase down their first love.

Micky Mellon's United were hammered 4-0 on their last visit to Glasgow but they are not alone in suffering on the Light Blues' home patch, with Gerrard's unbeaten outfit boasting a 100 per cent league record in Govan.

"There is a rivalry there so we know United will come to Ibrox ready to fight for everything," Gerrard added.

"They did that in the first game at Ibrox but unfortunately on the day they met us, we were really on top form.

"Micky is a manager I really respect and I know he's going to fire his troops up.

"But the focus will be on us. Our home form has been outstanding this season, 14 from 14 in the league. We want to improve on that."

amp_article__436051 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-02-20 13:20:59:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 03:05:50 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Steven Gerrard

Click here for more stories about Royal Antwerp

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Round
1CharleroiCharleroi00002648-2229
2EupenEupen00002458-3424
3KortrijkKortrijk00002257-3524
4RWD MolenbeekRWDM00003167-3623
Championship Round
1Union SGUnion SG000063313235
2Anderlecht000058302832
3Club BruggeBrugge000062293326
4Royal AntwerpAntwerp000055272826
5Genk000051312024
6Cercle BruggeCercle Brugge000044341024
Conference League Play-off Group
1GentGent000053381524
2MechelenMechelen00003934523
3Sint-Truiden00003546-1120
4Standard Liege00003341-817
5Westerlo00004254-1215
6Leuven00003447-1315
 
Regular Season
1Union SGUnion SG30217263313270
2Anderlecht30189358302863
3Royal AntwerpAntwerp301410655272852
4Club BruggeBrugge30149762293351
5Genk301211751312047
6GentGent301211753381547
7Cercle BruggeCercle Brugge301451144341047
8MechelenMechelen30136113934545
9Sint-Truiden301010103546-1140
10Standard Liege30810123341-834
11Westerlo3079144254-1230
12Leuven3078153447-1329
13CharleroiCharleroi3078152648-2229
14EupenEupen3073202458-3424
15KortrijkKortrijk3066182257-3524
16RWD MolenbeekRWDM3058173167-3623
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .